Current-meter



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1.

W. G. PRICE.

CURRENT METER.

No. 325,011. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

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W. G. PRICE,

CURRENT METER` Y No. 325,011. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

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rTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VlliLlAhI GUNN PRTCE, OF NEW' ORLEANS, LOUISTANA.

CURRENT-METER.

SPEGIFJCATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,011, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed June 8, 1885.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Orleans, parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gurrent-l\[eters, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

rlhis invention relates to a current-meter the construction of which is such as to effect nally exclude dirt or gritty matter from the bearings or contact thereof, and thus cause the friction with which the wheel turns to become a constant quantity and the contact to work with unerring certainty.

The invention is clearly shown. inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of same complete and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the wheel frame, shaft, Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the meter, and Fig. 4 a side view thereof. Fig. 5 is a detailed view, partly in section, of an air-tight or contact box at top of wheel-frame. Figs. (i are detailed views of the contact or upper end of the Wheelshaft.

0n the drawings, the letter A designates the whecl'frame; B, the vane or guide thereof, and C an intermediate journal or trunnion box having a hinged side, d, for the introduction or removal of a trunnion, e,which is provided with a central holc or bearing, f, for the reception of a rod, G, to which it is secured by a pin or other suitable device. The upper portion of the rod G is provided with a suspending-rope, lz., and the lower end with an eye or hook, to which is connected a suitable weight, H, for holding it in an upright position when submerged.

rlhe meter-wheel is composed of a flat circular plate, or of a rim of metal provided with a series of suitable arms for connecting same with a hub or center, having a central hole for the reception of a shaft, l, against the collar i of which it is secured by a nut, I, adapted to iit the threaded portion of the said shaft, and on which it is prevented from slipping or turning by a dowel-pin which is driven through the said center and collar, as shown at fi. Cup-sections 7.: 7s are soldered or otherwise se- (o model.)

cured at cach side of the aforesaid wheelarms, so that each wheelcup shall be composed of a pair of sections, as shown.

The lower end of the wheel-shaft I is of tubular forni or recessed to receive the npwardlyprojecting steel pin or pivot Z, forming part of or connected with a screw-plug, L, which is adapted to fit a threaded aperture made in the lower branch of the wheel-frame, and in which it is prevented from turning by a set-screw, Z.

The upper portion of the wheel-shaft is somewhat reduced in diameter and provided with a steel axial pin, m, the upper end of which is slit in two parts vertically, and one part, m', cutaway from the balance thereof, but again replaced with a good insulating material, m, between same. The said parts are thus secured together by two brass rings, n n,which are insulated from the severed portion of the pin and soldered to the solid part thereof.

The aforesaid steel axial pin m operates in a bearing formed in the upper part of a tube, N, which is adapted to t an aperture in the upper branch of the wheel-frame in the same axial line as that formed in the lowerbraneh of said frame, and in which it is secured by a set-screw, o.

At the upper part of the tube N is a box, l?, in which the slitted portion of the pin m operates. rlhis box is made airtight by the application of a gasket of oiled soft paper between the top and cover thereof, the latter secured to the former by means of bolts or screws, as shown in Fig. 3. rlhe cover of the box is provided at a point immediately above the pin with a threaded aperture, in which is fitted a steel screw, R, which is adjusted to receive the upward pressure of the wheel-shaft, and which can be removed to admitoil to the upper bearing thereof.

The letter p designates a spring, which is soldered to an insulated post, S, to which an insulated wire, t, is attached. The said post and spring are insulated from the airtight box by the pieces of ivory, c c', connected therewith. The free end of the spring pressing against the divided end of the axial pin m causes the circuit to he successively opened ICO and closed as the turning of the wheel brings the different sections of the said pin in contact therewith.

In order to reduce the air-space in the box I), that portion thereof which is between the ivory pieces a c is filled with wax, which prevents air from being compressed into same, and thus serves to effectually exclude water from the upper bearing of the wheel.

'Ilhe insulated wirct is connected with an insulated post, .'I, which is secured to the wheel-frame, as shown in Fig. 2. From this post an insulated wire, t', is led rearwardly to the trunnion-box, and from the under part of the trunnion c up through a perforation, n, therein, and thence alongside the supportingrod and suspension-rope to the battery above. The circuit is completed by an insulated wire, t, which is attached to the wheel-frame by a screw, w, and which in like manner is led back to the trunnion box and up through a hole, r, in the opposite end of the trunnion, and thence along the supportingrod and suspension-rope to the indicator or battery.

From the above description it will be seen that as long as the meter is kept right side up it will be impossible for air to escape from the bearing-tubes, and that the said air will become compressed more and more as the apparatus is sunk deeper and deeper in t-he water; but owing to the capacity of the tubes the said air will not be sufficiently compressed to admit water'to the hearings, for by actual experiment in the Mississippi river it was found that even at a depth of one hundred and fifty feet the air had not been sufficiently compressed to allow the muddy water to reach the bearings.

As the contact is incased in an air-tight box above the upper bearing, the same is protected not only from the gritty matter contained in most running streams, but from fioating grasses, leaves, Src., which have been the cause of failure in that class of current-meters in which the contact is made in the water.

Another important feature consists in the form of the meter-wheel, which is such as to insure great strength, and thus without injury to resist shocks from drift-wood, Snc.

The advantage in conducting the wires to the trunnion and up each side ofthe supportingrod and suspension-rope is that owing to the close proximity of said wires to the rod and rope sufficient leverage cannot be had by the running water to pull the frame out of line with the current, as would be the case if the wires were attached differently', or at other points, as in the common run of meters.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a current-meter, the combination of a cup-wheel having a shaft provided at one end with an axial pin and at the opposite end with a tube or socket with a meter-frame having a pivotbearing and a journal-bearing adapted to support the opposite-ends of the wheelshaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a current-meter, the combination of a meter-frame having ajournal-bearing communicating with an air-tight box adapted vto receive the extremity of a meter wheel shaft or axial pin one part of which is insulated from the other, and the box provided with an insulated post having a spring connected therewith through which electrical communication is had with the meter-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a current-meter, a ineter-framehaving an axial bearing communicating with an airtight box, the latter provided with an insulated post and a contact-spring adapted to operate against the extension of the journal or axial pin of a wheelshaft, as described, the interior of the box provided with piecesof ivory and a wax filling for reducing theairspace within saine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a currentmeter,a frame having an axial bearing communicating with an air-tight box, the cover of box provided with an oilhole adapted to receive a screw against which the end of' the wheelshaft operates, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a current-meter, a wheel-frame provided with avane and an intermediate journal or trunnion-box, with a supportingtrunnion having perforations or guides at each side of the center thereof for the passage of the insulated wires, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a current-meter, the combination of a wheel-frame provided with ajournal or trunnion box having a hinged side, as described, with a supporting-trui)nion adapted to connect with or be disconnected from the aforesaid parts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my' signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM GUNN PRICE.

Witnesses:

B. H. COOPER, CHARLES OLsoN.

I ool 

